If a member state persistently breaches EU values (rule of law, democracy, human rights), Article 7 TEU allows the EU to suspend certain rights, including voting rights in the Council. But even then, the country remains a member — it does however lose influence. Perhaps it is time for Brussels…

Lithuanian real estate empire In 2020, Puiki Investicija (“Great Investment”), a little-known real estate firm with minimal staff and profits, undertook an ambitious Klaipeda development project. Questions arose in the local city council about the source of its funding, with suspicions pointing to Belarusian money. The company, owned by Mohammed…

Czechia’s main opposition party, ANO, has widened its advantage over Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s ruling bloc less than three weeks before parliamentary elections. A new survey by pollster STEM for CNN Prima News places ANO on 31.3% support, with the centre-right SPOLU (Together) coalition on 20.2%. Voting will take place…

The dispute traces back to contract awarded in 2019 to a Chinese-led consortium reportedly plagued by corruption. Brussels has sent a stark warning to Nicosia, demanding the repayment of €67 million in EU funding linked to the unfinished liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal at Vasilikos. The debit note, delivered…

Two weeks ago, a leaked audio recording confirmed that the CEOs of the state-owned Telekom Srbija and the Netherlands-based United Group discussed plans to remove the chief executive of United Media, a subsidiary of United Group that operates several outlets in the country, including the leading opposition outlet N1 —…